SSPCA: 2013 ‘busiest ever year’ for animal charity

SCOTLAND’S leading animal welfare charity, the Scottish SPCA, had its busiest ever year in 2013 with a record number of calls to its animal helpline, pets rehomed and wildlife saved.

Puppy Cheeka had her leg broken after her Larkhall owner threw her down some stairs. Picture: SSPCA

The charity revealed today that the number of investigations carried out by its officers also reached record levels last year, with an average of more than one person being banned by the courts from keeping animals every week.

Calls to the Scottish SPCA animal helpline rose by 17 per cent to 228,143 last year a total of 58 people were banned from keeping animals following SSPCA investigations.

During the year the charity rehomed 6,563 animals and released 2,939 wild animals back into their natural habitat.

Chief Superintendent Mike Flynn said today: “Many of the calls we receive are from people reporting suspected neglect and mistreatment, alerting us to animals in danger and either wanting to rehome an animal or asking us to take in their pets.

“In 2013 our investigations increased from 17,373 to 20,111, we found loving new homes for 6,563 pets and we were able to rehabilitate and release 2,939 wild animals. These were all records in what was our busiest ever year.”

He stressed: “With the demands we are facing increasing rapidly, we are continuing to invest significantly in our capacity to take in and help animals.

“Last year we announced the £4.8 million extension of our rehoming centre in Glasgow, known locally as the Glasgow Dog and Cat Home. This follows the opening of our National Wildlife Rescue Centre in Clackmannanshire and our rehoming centre in Aberdeenshire in previous years.”

Chief Supt Flynn said the “horrifying” animal cruelty cases dealt with by the Scottish courts in 2013 had included a Stirling puppy dealer who mistreated 57 dogs being jailed for eight months, a Larkhall man being banned from owning animals for six years for breaking his dog’s leg by throwing her down stairs and a Perthshire farmer receiving a lifetime ban for neglecting over a thousand sheep and cattle.

“We can’t be certain if cruelty is increasing as more people are aware of how we can help animals, which means we are possibly uncovering cases which may not have been reported in previous years,” he said.

“However, we know our inspectors were faced with a catalogue of neglect and abuse. While most of the cases we dealt with were caused by ignorance and a lack of understanding of what an animal needs, many involved wilful and mindless cruelty.”

Chief Supt Flynn continued: “Last year 58 people were banned from owning animals, which is a shameful average of more than one a week.

“We can be encouraged by the fact that so many people called our helpline because they care for animals. That’s a very positive sign and suggests overall we are still a nation of animal lovers.

“Investing in education is vital if we are to get our message through to sections of the Scottish public who don’t treat animals as they should.”

He added: “Our free Prevention through Education programme reached over 300,000 children in 2013, which is an essential and significant step in the right direction as this will have a profound difference for animal welfare in Scotland for generations to come.”